Ooit wel eens willen weten waar de latijnse spierbenamingen vandaan komen.

Names of the skeletal muscles

Most skeletal muscles have Latin names that describe some feature of the muscle; Often several criteria are combined into one name. The following are some terms relating to muscle features that are used in naming muscles.

Size: vastus (huge); maximus (large); longus (long); minimus (small); brevis (short).

Shape: deltoid (triangular); rhomboid (like a rhombus with equal and parallel sides); latissimus (wide); teres (round); trapezius (like a trapezoid, a four-sided figure with two sides parallel).

Direction of fibers: rectus (straight); transverse (across); oblique (diagonally); orbicularis (circular).

Location: pectoralis (chest); gluteus (buttock or rump); brachii (arm); supra- (above); infra- (below); sub- (under or beneath); lateralis (lateral).

Number of origins: biceps (two heads); triceps (three heads); quadriceps (four heads).

Origin and insertion: sternocleidomastoideus (origin on the sternum and clavicle, insertion on the mastoid process); brachioradialis (origin on the brachium or arm, insertion on the radius).

Action: abductor (moves parts of the body away from parts nearby); adductor (moves parts of the body toward parts nearby); flexor (causes a joint to bend); extensor (causes a joint to straighten); levator (lifts a structure); masseter (usied in chewer).